Somalia Regions hit by 2019 Tropical Cyclone Pawan

This layer shows movement path of 2019 Tropical Cyclone Pawan in Somalia. A Tropical Storm initially named 06A formed in the northern Indian Ocean and later developed into a Tropical Cyclone named Pawan after sustaining wind speeds of more than 39mph (48kph) and heavy rain for two days. TC Pawan spread its clouds as far northwest as Oman and Yemen on its way to Somalia. It made landfall in Somalia on 7th December 2019 on the Coastal side of Puntland (Bossaso, Garowe).   The worst hit areas by 2019 TC Pawan included Nugaal Region (Eyl and Dangorayo Districts), Karkaar (Qardho District) and Bari Region (Alula, Iskushuban, and Baargaal Districts) who are under Garowe Somalia Red Crescent Society (SRCS) Branch) and the Coastal villages of Hafun, Iskushuban, Baargaal, Quandala and Alula Districts in Bari Region (under Bosasso SRCS Branch). Other areas affected include the coastal villages in Bari Region including Hafun, Iskushuban, Baargaal, Quandala and Alula districts. Most affected households needed urgent humanitarian assistance as they were already living in dire conditions prior to the crisis. The destruction and flooding caused by TC Pawan increased the vulnerability of communities and heightened the impact of the ever -challenging climatic extremes. The assessment estimated that 35,600 households, representing a population of 213,600 people had been affected. The assessment further estimated the affected population to represented 60-70% of the entire Bari and Nugaal Regions.

Tropical Cyclone Gati originated from the Bay of Bengal. On 22 November 2020 at around 13:00 UTC, TC Gati became the strongest ever documented tropical storm to hit Somalia. Gati made landfall at Ras Hafun (Northeast of Somalia) with maximum sustained winds of 170Km/hr and was classified as a Category 2 storm (or category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale). This layers shows the occurence of TC Gati in two regions of Somali, Sanaag and Bari Regions. TC Gati primarily impacted parts of Bari region in Puntland State and then Sanaag region in Somaliland. Authorities reported rainfall totals from the storm to be greater than the amounts normally seen for the whole year. In a 24-hour period, Bosaso recorded 128mm of rain and Balidhidin 103mm. By 25th November 2020, TC Gati had dissipated but it left trail of destruction across Bari and Sanaag regions of Somalia. Authorities estimated 180,000 people (30,000 households) had been affected in Puntland Regional State, with 42,000 people (7,000 households) displaced and at least eight people killed and unknown number injured, with considerable damages reported to infrastructure, livelihoods, and social services (telecommunication, electricity, roads, schools). Resultant flooding bursted the sewerage system and increased risk of diseases among the affected population. By the end of December, the storm had killed 9 people and over 63 000 livestock (sheep and goats), and affected around 183 000 people.  The heavy rains caused the Ceel-Daahir River in Puntland to flood, blocking vehicles from bringing crucial supplies. In some towns such as Xaafun, Hurdiye, and Karduush people reported losing their entire herds of livestock. There were also reports of the destruction of 120 fishing vessels in these areas resulting in the loss of livelihood for an estimated 460 fishermen.

2019 Tropical Cyclone Pawan struck Eyl and Qurdho Districts in Somalia. TC Pawan was intially named Tropical Storm 06A which originated from northern Indian Ocean. TC Pawan spread its clouds as far northwest as Oman and Yemen on its way to Somalia as observed by NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). It made landfall in Somalia on 7th December 2019 on the Coastal side of Puntland. The storm influenced Somalia's weather patterns. Heavy rain and wind gusts of 80 km/h were reported in the region. Somali Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM) said some areas in Puntland recorded more than 3 times their long term mean annual rainfall during the storm. Eyl District recorded a total of 260mm in two days. Villages struck by the storm include Dangorayo, Karkaar, Hafun, Iskushuban, Baargaal, Quandala and Alula in Bari Region. 2019 TC Pawan had adverse impacts on Somalia. It was reported that 35,600 households, representing a population of 213,600 people had been affected. 2 people died following floods in Las Qoray (Sanaag Region). Roads connecting the town to the rest of the region were damaged. In central Somalia, River Shabelle flooded displacing over 1,500 people. Summary of impacts according to affected districts: Eyl,Qardho, Qandala: People Affected: 213600 (35600 HH) i.e. pastoralists 15,000 HH, fishing communities 7500 HH, rural-urban settlements 11600 HH including IDPs, farmers 1500 HH Household destroyed: 31500 (5250 households)

On October 25, 2012 Cyclonic Storm Murjan struck Bayla District of eastern Somalia, bringing heavy rainfall of over 40 mm (1.6 in) and gusty winds to the country and neighboring Ethiopia. This layer shows the occurence of TC Murjan in Bari Region.  TC Murjan formed over the south Arabian Sea in association with an active inter tropical convergence zone during last week of October 2012. It was the first cyclone over the north Indian Ocean during that year. Moving west southwestwards, it crossed Somalia coast between 1700 and 1800 UTC of 25th October near lat. 9.80N and long. 50.80E.  Though the Ocean Heat Content was less over the southwest Arabian Sea (50-80 KJ/cm2) and further less near Somalia coast (less than 50 KJ/cm2) as well as SST (26-280C), the system could maintain its intensity of cyclonic storm till landfall, basically due to low to moderate vertical wind shear. TC Murjan brougt heavy rainfalls to Somalia. This resulted to flash flooding which washed away livestock and bridges in Bari region, causing some fatalities. A total of 100,000 livestock died. Districts impacted in the region included Bossasso, Ishkushban, Bandar Beyla, Garowe and Eyl Districts.

Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System described Cyclone Sagar as one of the strongest storms ever recorded in Somalia. This was a very rare cyclone in the Gulf of Aden that made landfall in north-western Somaliland on 19 May, 2018. This layer shows the occurence of TC Sagar in some regions of Somalia,including Awdal, Togdheer, Sool, Sanaag, Bari, Hiraan, Gedo and Lower Juba.The TC Sagar moved with wind gusts of up to 120 km/hour that delivered a year’s worth of rain to some areas in the north, that is between 150 and 200mm. TC Sagar was reported to have adverse impacts on Somalia regions. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported heavy rainfall, strong winds and dangerous flash floods hitting coastal areas of Puntland and Somaliland. This resulted in the loss of lives, crops and livestock as well as the destruction of property and infrastructure. Recored impacts according to regions included: Awdal, Bari, Sanaag, Sool, Togdheer Number of people affected: 228,000 Number of people displaced: 9,000 Awdal, Hiraan, Gedo, Lower Juba  Number of people affected:830,000 Number of people worst hit:170,000 Number of people displaced: 290,000 Number of people death: 50 Infrusructure destroyed:(20-40)schools and 21 health facilities

Tropical cyclones hitting Somalia Regions for the period between 1984 to 2020. This layer indicates the frequency of cyclone occurence within specific regions of Somalia. The cyclones recorded include: 1984 Tropical Cyclone 1A 1984 Tropical Cyclone 4B 1992 Tropical Cyclone 12A 1994 Tropical Cyclone 05A 1997 Tropical Cyclone 03A 2004 Tropical Cyclone Agni 2010 Tropical Cyclone Bandu 2012 Tropical Cyclone Murjan 2013 Tropical Cyclone 3A 2015 Tropical Cyclone Chapala 2015 Tropical Cyclone Megh 2018 Tropical Cyclone Sagar 2019 Tropical Cyclone Pawan 2020 Tropical Cyclone Gati